Tongue-switch.



0. E. EINK. TONGUE SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1908.

Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

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APPLIGATION FILED JULY 20, 1908. 932,010. Patented Aug, 24, 1909.

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UNITED STATES ATNT FFllCE.

CHARLES E. FINK, 0F GAMPHILL, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PENNSYLVANIA STEEL COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CGRPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TONGUE-SWITCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. FINK, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Camphill, in the county of Cumberland, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tongue- Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to tongue switches for railways.

The object of the invention is to provide a tongue switch of simple and ef icient construction, whereby the switch tongue may be held in proper working position; whereby certain parts may be adjusted to compensate for wear; and whereby the kicking or accidental throwing of the switch may be prevented, as will be hereinafter fully described and particularly claimed.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a tongue switch embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, as on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section as on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical section, as on the line t l of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, as on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a perspective view f the removable pin engaged by the heel end of the switch tongue.

6 designates the base of a switch section of a railway, and 7, the switch tongue. The switch tongue rests upon the base of the usual groove 8 formed inthe hard metal tread portion 9 which is fitted to the upper portion of the base 6.

Leading from the base 6 adjacent the heel end of the switch tongue 7 are the two diverging rails 10 and 11; and leading from the base 6 adjacent the point end of the switch tongue 7 is the rail 12. The switch tongue 7 is designed to be moved from side to side of the groove 8, to direct the car wheels between either the rails 10 and 12, or the rails 11 and 12 in the usual well known manner.

Formed in the base 6 and extending beneath the heel end of the switch tongue 7 is a recess 14:. Formed in the rear wall of the recess 14: is a socket 15, in which is arranged the lower cylindrical end 16 of a pin 17, which rests upon a bottom plate 18. The top of the pin 17 is flush with the top of the Switch tongue 7, and the upper portion of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 20, 1908.

Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

Serial No. 444,542.

the pin 17 is cut away or reduced, thus forming the rearward key portion 19 and the forward convex bearing portion 20 connected by the rearwardly diverging walls 21 with the key portion 19. The hard metal tread portion 9 extends over and engages the top of the lower cylindrical portion 16 of the pin 17, and this part of the hard metal portion 9 has formed therein a socket shaped to receive and fit the key portion 19 and rearwardly diverging walls 21. The convex face of the portion 20 is a continuation of the forward face of the lower cylindrical portion 16, so as to form a convex bearing surface extending the full length of the pin 17. Fitted to this convex bearing face is a concave'socket 23 formed in the heel end of the switch tongue 7, and in a downwardlyextending, socket-like part 24 formed on the heel end of the switch tongue and extending into the recess 14; the socket-like part 2 1 being provided with a forward convex face 25.

Fitted to and engaging the convex face 25 are the rearward faces of a pair of oppositely disposed blocks 26, having a space therebetween, the forward faces of which are oppositely beveled and fitted to similarly beveled or inwardly and rearwardly converging faces 32 forming a portion of the front wall of the recess 14.

Extending transversely through the blocks 26 is a bolt 27, having on one end thereof a head 28 engaging one of the blocks 26, and having on the other end thereof an adjustable head or nut, 29, having its inner face engaged with a washer 30, between which and the other block 26 is interposed a spring 31 which encircles the bolt 27. The head or nut 29 is fitted to screw threads on the bolt 27 so that it may be adjusted toward the blocks 26.

By the construction just described, it will be seen that the head 28 will engage the outer face of one block 26 and that the spring 31 will engage the outer face of the other block 26, thus causing the spring 31 to press one block inwardly and at the same time draw upon the head 28 to press the other block 26 inwardly, thereby causing said blocks to press the concave socket 23 into engagement with the forward bearing face of the pin 17, due to the beveled forward faces of the block 26 engaging the beveled faces 32. The degree of pressure against the outer faces of the blocks 26 may be increased or decreased by the head or nut 29 upon the bolt 27, from which it will be seen that the heel end of the switch tongue 7 may be kept inclose working engagement with the convex bearing surface of the pin 17, irrespective of any wear that may occur between the parts.

The top of the pin 17 and the top of the hard metal tread portion in which the socket 22 is formed are flush with the top of the switch tongue 7, and they form in effect a v continuation of the heel end of the switch tongue leading to the rails and 11. The

rearwardly converging walls 21 of the reduced portion of the pin engage similar walls of the socket 22, thus forming an abutment for the pin 17 against rearward pressure. Vertical displacement of the pin 17 is prevented by the engagement of the hard metal tread portion 9 with the top of the lower cylindrical portion 16 of the pin.

It will be seen that the parts may be readily removed or replaced, or other parts substituted therefor, by loosening the nut 29 and raising the switch tongue 7 out of the groove 8. The nut 29 may then be removed from the bolt 27 and the bolt withdrawn from the blocks 26; after which the blocks 26 may be removed from the recess 14. This being done, the pin 17 may be moved forwardly into the recess 1 1 and from engagement with the sockets 15 and 22; whereupon the pin 17 may be moved vertically out of the recess 14;. The parts may be assembled by reversing the operation just described.

The forward convex bearing face of the pin 17, the concave socket 23 in the heel end of the switch tongue, and the convex face 25 on the part 24, are all struck from a common center, rearwardly of the heel end of the switch tongue 7. This center being in rear of the heel end of the switch tongue 7 effectually prevents all liability of the kicking or accidental throwing of the switch tongue as a car wheel passes to or from the heel end of the tongue, for the reason that no part of the switch tongue which is acted upon by the car wheel extends rearwardly to or beyond the center.

I claim 1. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, a pin engaged with the base and removable therefrom, and a switch tongue having a concave socket in its heel end fitted to said pin, substantially as described.

2. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, a pin engaged with the base and removable therefrom, a switch tongue having a concave socket in its heel end.fitted to said pin, and means for holding the tongue in working engagement with said pin, substantially as described.

3. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, a pin engaged with the base and removable therefrom, a switch tongue having a concave socket in its heel end fitted to said pin, and means engaging said pin and preventing its removal from the base, substantially as described.

4. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, a pin engaged with the base and removable therefrom and having a lower cylindrical portion and an upper reduced portion, a part engaging the top of said cylindrical portion and holding said pin in place, and a switch tongue having a concave socket .inits heel end fitted to said pin, substantially as described.

5. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, a pin engaged with the base and removable therefrom and having a lower cylindrical portion and an upper reduced portion having a convex bearing surface from which extend rearwardly converging surfaces, a part engaging said converging surfaces and the top of said cylindrical portion and holding said pin in place, and a switch tongue having a concave socket in its heel end fitted to said convex bearing surface, substantially as described.

6. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, a pin engaged with the base and removable therefrom, a switch tongue having a concave socket in its heel end fitted to said pin, and means for adjusting said tongue toward said pin, substantially as described.

7. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, a pin engaged with the base and removable therefrom and having a lower cylindrical portion and an upper reduced portion having a convex bearing surface from which extend rearwardly converging surfaces, a part engaging said converging surfaces and the top of said cylindrical portion and holding said pin in place, a switch tongue having a concave socket inits heel end fitted to said convex bearing surface, and means for adjusting said tongue toward said surface, substantially as described.

8. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, a pin engaged with the base and removable therefrom, a switch tongue having a concave socket in its heel end fitted to said pin and having at its heel end a convex surface, and means for adjusting said tongue toward said pin, said means including a part engaged with the convex surface of said tongue, substantially as described.

9. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, a pin engaged with the base and removable therefrom and having a lower cylindrical portion and an upper reduced portion having a convex bearing surface from which extend rearwardly converging surfaces, a part engaging said converging surfaces and the top of said cylindrical portion and holding said pin in place, a switch tongue having a concave socket in its heel end fitted to said surface and having at its heel end a convex surface, and means for adjusting said tongue toward said pin, said means including a part engaged with the convex surface of said tongue, substantially as described.

10. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, a pin engaged with the base and removable therefrom, and a switch tongue having at its heel end a downwardly extending part in which is formed a concave socket fitted to said pin, substantially as described.

11. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, a pin engaged with the base and removable therefrom, a switch tongue having at its heel end a downwardly extend ing part in which is formed a concave socket fitted to said pin, and means engaging said part and holding said socket in working engagement with said pin, substantially as described.

12. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, a pin engaged with the base and removable therefrom, a switch tongue having a concave socket in its heel end fitted to said pin, and having at its heel end a convex surface, a block movable toward said pin and engaging the convex surface of said tongue, and means for adjusting said block, substantially as described.

13. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base having the recess therein provided with inwardly converging walls, a member having a convex bearing surface, a switch tongue having a concave socket in itsheel end fitted to said surface and having at its heel end a convex port-ion extending into said recess, a pair of blocks between and in engagement with said convex portion and said converging walls, and means for adjusting said blocks toward each other, substantially as described.

14. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base having the recess therein provided with inwardly converging walls, a member having a convex bearing surface, a switch tongue having a concave socket in its heel end fitted to said surface and having at its heel end a convex portion extending into said recess, a pair of blocks between and in engagement with said convex portion and said converging walls, and a bolt extending through said blocks and having a head on one end thereof and an adjustable nut on the other end thereof substantially as described.

15. In a tongue switch the combination of the base having a pivotal bearing for the heel end of the switch tongue, and having arecess therein provided with .inwardly converging walls, a switch tongue having its heel end engaged with said pivotal bearing and having a part extending into said recess, a pair of blocks between and in engagement'with said part and said converging walls, and spring-pressed means forcing said blocks toward each other, substantially as described.

16. In a tongue switch the combination of the base having a pivotal bearing for the heel end of the switch tongue and having a recess therein provided with inwardly converging walls, a switch tongue having its heel end engaged with said pivotal bearing and having a part extending into said recess, a pair of blocks between and in engagement with said part and said converging walls, a bolt extending through said blocks and having a head on each end thereof, and a spring interposed between one of said heads and one of said blocks, substantially as described.

17. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base having a pivotal bearing for the heel end of the switch tongue and having a recess therein provided with inwardly converging walls, a switch tongue having its heel end engaged with said pivotal bean ing and having a part extending into said recess, a pair of blocks between and in engagement with said part and said converging walls, a bolt extending through said blocks and having a head on one end thereof and an adjustable head on the other end thereof, and a spring interposed between one of said heads and one of said blocks, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CHARLES E. FINK.

IVitnesses B. A. HANKIN, IVM. R. MILLER. 

